Since my appointment to the position of police commissioner, I repeatedly hear two questions from the citizens of Baltimore. What are you going to do to curb crime? And, what can I do to help? These questions rightly belong together, because effective policing is "community policing" in which law enforcement and law-abiding citizens work together to achieve a safe environment.
The Police Department's mission is to take this city back from law breakers, block by block. As in any battle, our charge is twofold. Never give away territory you already have and, once you've solidified your territory, expand from there. Our district commanders are looking at their districts strategically. Rather than scattering our resources, we will identify and build from existing strengths.
Every block in each of the nine city police districts can be viewed as a piece of a quilt. Where we identify strong blocks, our commanders will focus their resources to extend that strength to bolster the next block, and then the next and the next. Block by block, we will "push out," increasingly gaining new territory.
We will proceed with this strategy systematically and boldly, as we did on Greenmount Avenue recently. There, we used an "alley fight" approach. If you're trapped in an alley by four guys and have to fight your way out, you have two choices. You can start by fighting the little guy and work your way up. But, you'll need to take on the big guy eventually, and, by that time you'll be exhausted. On the other hand, if you take on the big guy first, you send a clear message of strength and the others will fall more easily.
We went after Greenmount Avenue because it was the toughest open-air drug market in the city, and everyone knew it -- the police, the community and the dealers. For a long time, the Greenmount Avenue area frustrated officers who believed they were not empowered to go in and do solid, proactive law-enforcement work. As we lined up on the east side of Memorial Stadium, the sentiment of every single officer was: This is our day. The drug dealers had had their day for too long, and we needed to let them know that this police department has the interest, the ability and the courage to take the community back. That day, we cleaned out 46 major drug distributors and offenders.
Our raid was the first important step to taking back Greenmount Avenue. On the heels of that initiative, we applied a "same place, same time" strategy to achieve lasting change. Following the police department's clean sweep, other city agencies became involved, focusing multiple resources on Greenmount in order to enhance the community's quality of life.
The day after the sweep, the Department of Public Works removed 60 tons of trash from the community, and within the next two weeks another 140 tons. Simultaneously, the Department of Housing inspected all vacant buildings and reboarded windows wherever necessary. Vacant properties on two blocks were so substandard -- filled with discarded furniture, needles and rats -- that they were leveled within days. Many other city agencies, including the Health Department, the Department of Recreation and Parks and Animal Control, contributed to our "same place, same time" effort on Greenmount Avenue.
The Greenmount initiative is a model of how we plan to take back the city, one block at a time. City agencies are working together in Baltimore's neighborhoods to fulfill Mayor Schmoke's vision of community-oriented government. Block by block, it's the Police Department's job to take on the toughest opponent first: crime on our streets. Only then will we be able to address the other problems that weaken our neighborhoods. Focusing services in a collaborative way not only involves government services, but also non-profit agencies, churches, schools and, most important, individual citizens.
Individual action is critical to strengthening and stabilizing Baltimore's neighborhoods. In cities across the nation, law-enforcement leaders see a clear link between citizen involvement and crime deterrence. The converse is also evident: A passive citizenry invites trouble. In particular, there is a strong correlation between crime and grime.
James Q. Wilson and George L. Kelling, authors of a March 1992 article in The Atlantic entitled "The Police and Neighborhood Safety," describe this correlation in terms of a broken-window theory. If the kids throw a rock at a window of an empty building, and you don't fix the window, pretty soon they'll throw another rock and soon all the windows will be broken. A broken window, or any other unaddressed nuisance crime, is a sign that a neighborhood does not care and breeds further disorder and more serious offenses.
Concerned citizens must send a signal to troublemakers that disorder and crime are not acceptable in Baltimore's neighborhoods. Our neighborhoods literally cannot stand for it. Sadly, we see evidence of once-fine neighborhoods falling into the cycle of grime and crime throughout Baltimore.
How can one person help? The key is your own block. You've got to start saying: We can't have a strong neighborhood if we don't have a strong block, and my block is my responsibility. Your block's appearance must send a message to all your neighbors and visitors that its residents care. Broken windows, graffiti and litter are not OK. Remove graffiti as soon as they appear, scrape out weeds in the sidewalk, clean up the vacant lot, pick up the trash, fix that broken window.
If you can't organize your whole block to help, start with the three or four households you can bring together. We must take this city back block by block if we can, house by house if we have to. Once you've forged stability on your own block, "push out" to help stabilize the block next to yours. If you are blessed with a neighborhood that is already strong and you possess the resources to do more for your city, do more. Call your police district's Neighborhood Service Office, and we'll find a good match for your skills, funds or expertise.
There is no shortage of positive steps you can take. The accompanying list will get you started, and we welcome other ideas you may have. We have divided suggested actions into two categories: things you can do for your community and things you can do for the Police Department. This second category is important. The vast majority of our officers are conscientious, service-oriented professionals who are concerned about your safety, and it is important for them to know you realize that fact.
There is no magic solution to crime in our city; it takes continuous action on many fronts. We need to make a lot of little changes, and celebrate each small victory. Celebrate the fact that there's no debris in the gutter. Celebrate a new community playground that replaces an empty lot. Celebrate the fact that you successfully encouraged one more family on your block to join the cause. If that family gets one more family involved, the effect is multiplied.
A few years ago, someone intrigued me with "The ten most important two-letter words in the English language." These ten words often ring in my ears as I face the daily task of addressing crime in our city. I hope they will resonate in your ears as well. "If it is to be, it is up to me." If each of us takes the problem of crime as our individual responsibility, together we will take back this city.
Thomas C. Frazier is police commissioner of Baltimore.
If It Is to Be, It Is Up to Me
Some ways to improve your community and help the Police Department fight crime:
Individuals and Families
* Become a "Block Watch" captain or a "Block Watch" family. This is the most important contribution you can make.
* Smile and greet your neighborhood police officers.
* Volunteer your time or talents to spruce up your local district station.
* Join your District Community Relations Council.
* Get to know the neighbors on your block. Make a point to notice their comings and goings.
* Do more than your share in keeping your block clean. Pick up trash beyond your property. Recruit other neighbors to do the same.
* Volunteer to be a tutor, athletic coach, Scout leader or mentor for city youth.
* Report graffiti and boarded buildings that have been disturbed in your neighborhood.
Neighborhood Associations
* Organize a "Citizens-on-Patrol" program for your neighborhood.
* Organize a recognition ceremony for your area's district officers.
* Sponsor thank-you breakfasts for district officers.
* Share your association's successful ideas with other city neighborhood associations.
* Organize volunteer support for the Police Department's youth activities.
* Use communication to stabilize your neighborhood. Circulate a neighbor list, a city resource list and regular newsletters. Organize block meetings.
* Organize gift-giving during the holidays for kids in your neighborhood or a neighborhood nearby.
* Organize regular clean-ups of major neighborhood common areas. Draw up a pact for neighbors to sign committing themselves to keeping their neighborhood clean.
* Support a local hero. Back up the initiative of a neighbor who has a great idea by contributing funds and gathering manpower.
Service Clubs
* Provide emergency seasonal assistance to district stations: for example, snow and ice removal, repairs needed due to storms.
* Consider in-kind services you can provide to the Police Department or your district station.
* Help create a gym for district officers. Eventually, the gym can be used for city youth programs.
* Fund the "Officer Leadership Development Program," or the "Signal 13 Foundation" for officers' families.
* Sponsor an athletic league or Scout troop.
* Participate as a group to a local Habitat for Humanity project.
* Establish or support an effective mentoring or tutoring program for city youth.
* Conceive a pilot program to help city youth. Document your success so that other groups can replicate it in other areas of the city.
Corporations
* Fund a district-level "Family Day" and support with employee manpower.
* Provide a contribution to the Police Department's "Family Day" to be held later this year: for example, arrange and pay for an Oriole appearance and free autographs.
* Donate an effective executive to serve as a management consultant to a district office or Police Headquarters.
* Adopt a district station. Work with the Neighborhood Services Office to develop a year-long partnership to boost district officers' morale.
* Donate in-kind services or equipment from your company to district offices in need.
* Fund a neighborhood "Citizens-on-Patrol" program: for example, pay for cars, cellular phones and pagers.
* Underwrite the creation of a neighborhood gym or playground.
* Adopt a tutoring or mentoring program, providing funds and employee manpower throughout the year.
* Create a summer apprentice program at your workplace for city youth.
* Support neighborhood associations with finances, office equipment or manpower.
* Donate materials or equipment your company no longer uses to the community through your Neighborhood Services Office.